Introduction. The following is a report of the first meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes. On 1 November 1884, Michael Cusack published a letter in two nationalist newspapers, the Irishman (paper of the Irish Parliamentary Party) and United Ireland. In this letter, he stated that himself and Maurice Davin had invited various people to a meeting in Hayes’s Hotel in Thurles to discuss the future of sport in Ireland, and to establish a society to promote national games. Several other newspapers published reports of the meeting, including the Freeman’s Journal, the Irish Sportsman and an English paper, the Daily Telegraph. One of those present, John McKay, one of the first secretaries of the new organisation, was a journalist with the Cork Examiner. His report, cited below, is one of the best accounts of this historic meeting. There is uncertainty about numbers who attended but most sources give a figure of eight to thirteen. At the meeting, Davin spoke first about the plan to start a new organisation for sport. He described how many Irish games were losing popularity and dying out in some cases in the countryside and appealed for a revival. Cusack, the next speaker, read sixty letters from well-wishers who could not attend the meeting from Ireland and abroad, Britain, America and Australia included. The Secretary of the Caledonian Association, Morrison Millar, writing on behalf of Scotland, Mr Kinnersley of Leeds, representing the Celts in Wales, and Professor F. L. O. Roehrig, prominent in the Irish-revival in America, and a Melbourne-based solicitor named Lynch, all offered enthusiastic support for the new Irish association. ‘The Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes’ was chosen as the official name but it soon became known familiarly by the shortened title of the GAA.
Source. ‘Gaelic Association for National Pastimes’, Cork Examiner , 8 November 1884.
A meeting of athletes and friends of athletics was held on Saturday, at three o’clock, in Miss Hayes’ Commercial Hotel, Thurles, for the purpose of forming an association for the preservation and cultivation of our national pastimes.
Mr Michael Cusack, of Dublin, and Mr Maurice Davin, Carrick-on-Suir, had the meeting convened by the following circular:—
You are earnestly requested to attend a meeting, which will be held at Thurles on the 1st of November, to take steps for the formation of a Gaelic Association for the preservation and cultivation of our national pastimes, and for providing rational amusements for the Irish people during their leisure hours. The movement, which it is proposed to inaugurate, has been approved of by Mr Michael Davitt, Mr Justin M’Carthy, MP, Mr W O’Brien, MP, Mr T Harrington, MP, and other eminent men, who are interested in the social elevation of our race.
The meeting was but poorly attended, and several important athletic clubs in the south did not send a representative, but perhaps this was owing to the fact that the notice given was very short. Another meeting will be held in the course of a month or so, and it is to be hoped that all who take an interest in the revival of ancient Irish pastimes, carried out under strict and proper rules, will lend a hand in the good work which Mr Cusack and Mr Davin have originated. Amongst those present at the preliminary meeting on Saturday were: Mr Cusack, Mr Davin, Mr Bracken, Mr O’Ryan (Thurles), Mr Wise Power [sic: Wyse] (Naas and Kildare Club), Mr Ryan, sol., (Callan); Mr John M’Kay (Cork Athletic Club), &c. Mr Davin was called to the chair, and Mr Cusack read the circular convening the meeting.
The Chairman then said that many of the good old Irish games had been allowed to die out in the country, which he and many others would like to see revived.
Mr Cusack then detailed the steps he had taken to get real Irish athletic events put in the programme of athletic meetings throughout the country, and how when he suggested to the promoters of the Caledonian Association games (which came off in Dublin on last Easter Monday) to introduce the high jump, the long jump, throwing, the hammer, slinging the 58lbs, and putting or throwing the 18lbs, that they at once consented to do so. The Caledonian Association expended £300 on their meeting, and it resulted in their having a balance of £200 on their hands at the close. He (Mr Cusack) thought they should be able to have the Gaelic Association meeting in 1885, but Mr Michael Davitt thought it would be too soon—that it should be put off until 1888—because it would require £1,000 to carry out such a meeting, and a general election was at present impending. Mr Davitt guaranteed that £500 of the £1,000 would be got from the Irish in America. Mr William O’Brien also promised his support, but cautioned him (Mr Cusack) against the movement being political in any sense.
Mr Cusack went on to say that he did not send circulars to the members of Parliament, so that, accordingly, he had no replies from them to read. Two clergymen—Father Keran, of Carton, County Clare, and Father Cantwell, of Thurles—wrote expressing their approval of the movement, and Mr Morrison Little, the Secretary of the Caledonian Association, also wrote in terms of warm approval. Mr C. Crowley, of Bandon; Mr George Listen, solicitor, Bruff; and Mr John Hargrave, Six-mile-bridge, County Clare, promised every assistance to the movement.
On the motion ad Mr Cusack, seconded by Mr Power, Archbishop Croke, Mr Parnell, and Mr Davitt were appointed patrons of the new association; and on the motion of the same gentleman, the title of the new association was fixed as ‘The Gaelic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes’.
Mr Cusack then proposed that Mr Maurice Davin—an athlete who had distinguished himself so much both is Ireland and in England—should be the president of the association.
Mr M’Kay (Cork) seconded the motion, and in doing so bore testimony to the appropriate selection of a president for the association. The name of Davin was one respected by all Irish athletes, and of that distinguished family in the arena of athletics, it was but meet that the Gaelic Association of Ireland should select the senior representative of it as their head. He (Mr M’Kay) had at first intended to oppose any business being done at that meeting on account of the small attendance; but he had changed his mind when he found what the nature of the propositions were. Who, he asked, could offer any opposition to their association being placed under the patronage of Archbishop Croke, Mr Parnell, and Mr Davitt, three names that went straight to the heart of every true son of the Green Isle (applause)—and as to their selection of Mr Maurice Davin as president, then was no meeting of athletes and friends of athletics that would not rejoice to have the opportunity of ratifying such a selection (hear, hear!!). While he was now speaking, he wished to avail of the occasion to say that the club he represented looked with favour on any such movement as the present provided it was properly carried out; but he thought that the formation of the Gaelic Association should only form one step researching the goal they were all anxious to arrive at—namely, the formation of a general athletic association for Ireland—composed of representatives from all the leading cubs—to regulate the management of all meetings, to frame rules of their own for the government of such meetings, and put an end once and for ever to their being bound by the rules of the English A. A. Association (hear, hear!!)
Mr M. Davin was then unanimously elected president of the association, while Mr Cusack, Mr Power, and Mr M’Kay were appointed honourable secretaries of the association. The meeting soon after terminated. Due notice will be given of the next meeting to be held in connection with the matter.
Tomás O’Riordan